Device and method for drying grain

Abstract

A device for drying grain includes a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, a first passageway, a second passageway, a grain flow housing, a filter across the grain flow housing, a recovery column, an air supply, a recycle column, a filter cleaner in the recovery column, and a conveyor for moving the filter cleaner along the filter. The air supply pulls an air flow into the housing through the inlet port as a grain flow pours through the grain flow housing. The air flow passes through the grain flow in a first pass air flow from the passageways to dry the grain. The first pass air flow passes through the filter to remove particles, and a portion of that filtered first pass air flow is recycled back with the filter cleaner to dislodge particles clogging the filter. The other portion is vented through the outlet port.

Claims

1. A device for drying grain, comprising: a housing having an inlet port and an outlet port, said inlet port being in fluid connection with said outlet port; a first passageway having a first entry end and a first exit end, said inlet port being in fluid connection with said first entry end; a first heating means mounted within a second passageway; said second passageway having a second entry end and a second exit end, said inlet port being in fluid connection with said second entry end; a grain flow housing being comprised of a cooling area, a first drying area above said cooling area, a second drying area above said first drying area, and a third drying area above said second drying area; a filter means across said grain flow housing from said first exit end and said second exit end; a recovery column in fluid connection with said grain flow housing through said filter means; an air supplying means in fluid connection with said recovery column and said inlet port; a recycle column in fluid connection with said air supplying means opposite said recovery column, said recycle column being in fluid connection with said outlet port; a filter cleaning means positioned within said recovery column and being comprised of a mobile blower, a blower intake, and a blower outlet, said mobile blower being in fluid connection with said recycle column and said blower outlet; and a conveying means within said recovery column and connected to said mobile blower.

2. The device for drying grain, according to claim 1, wherein said first exit end is in fluid connection with said cooling area, and wherein said second exit end is in fluid connection with said first drying area.

3. The device for drying grain, according to claim 1, wherein said blower intake is comprised of a conduit.

4. The device for drying grain, according to claim 1, wherein said blower intake is a cone.

5. The device for drying grain, according to claim 1, wherein said blower intake is sealed from said recovery column through a divider between said recovery column and said recycle column.

6. The device for drying grain, according to claim 1, further comprising: a third passageway having a third entry end and a third exit end, said recycle column being in fluid connection with said third entry end after said air supplying means; and a second heating means within said third passageway.

7. The device for drying grain, according to claim 6, wherein said third exit end is in fluid connection with said second drying area.

8. The device for drying grain, according to claim 6, further comprising: a fourth passageway having a fourth entry end and a fourth exit end, said recycle column being in fluid connection with said fourth entry end after said air supplying means; and a third heating means within said fourth passageway.

9. The device for drying grain, according to claim 8, wherein said fourth exit end is in fluid connection with said third drying area.

10. The device for drying grain, according to claim 6, further comprising: an upper filter means across said grain flow housing from said third exit end; an upper recovery column in fluid connection with said grain flow housing through said upper filter means; and an upper recycle column in fluid connection with said upper recovery column at one end of said upper recovery column.

11. The device for drying grain, according to claim 10, further comprising: an upper filter cleaning means positioned within said upper recovery column and being comprised of an upper mobile blower, an upper blower intake, and an upper blower outlet, said upper mobile blower being in fluid connection with said upper recycle column and said upper blower outlet.

12. The device for drying grain, according to claim 11, wherein said upper blower intake is sealed from said upper recovery column through an upper divider between said upper recovery column and said upper recycle column.

13. A method for drying grain, comprising steps of: assembling a device, according to claim 1; passing an external air flow into said housing through said inlet port by said air supplying means with negative pressure; pouring a grain flow through said grain flow housing; passing said external air flow through said grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of said grain flow so as to form a first pass air flow, said first pass air flow drying said grain flow; filtering said first pass air flow with first air flow retaining particles through said filter means so as to form a first filtered air flow in said recovery column, said first air flow retaining particles being retained by said filter means; directing a first portion of said first filtered flow to said recycle column; directing a second portion of said first filtered flow from said recycle column through said filter means toward said grain flow so as to remove said first air flow retaining particles from said filter means; and venting said first portion from said recycle column through said outlet port.

14. The method for drying grain, according to claim 13, wherein the step of passing said external air flow through said grain flow comprises steps of: passing said external air flow through said first passageway to said grain flow; and passing said external air flow through said second passageway to said grain flow.

15. The method for drying grain, according to claim 14, wherein the step of passing said external air flow through said grain flow comprises steps of: heating said external air flow through said second passageway.

16. The method for drying grain, according to claim 13, wherein said device further comprises: a third passageway having a third entry end and a third exit end, said recycle column being in fluid connection with said third entry end after said air supplying means; a second heating means within said third passageway, and wherein the step of directing said first portion of said first filtered flow comprises steps of: passing said first portion from said recycle column to said third passageway by said air supplying means by positive pressure; heating said first portion with said second heating means within said third passageway; and passing said first portion through said grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of said grain flow so as to form a second pass air flow from said third passageway, said second pass air flow drying said grain flow.

17. The method for drying grain, according to claim 16, wherein said device further comprises: a fourth passageway having a fourth entry end and a fourth exit end, said recycle column being in fluid connection with said fourth entry end after said air supplying means; and a third heating means within said fourth passageway, and wherein the step of directing said first portion of said first filtered flow comprises steps of: passing said first portion from said recycle column to said fourth passageway by said air blowing means by positive pressure; heating said first portion with said third heating means within said fourth passageway; and passing said first portion through said grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of said grain flow so as to form said second pass air flow from said fourth passageway, said second pass air flow drying said grain flow.

18. The method for drying grain, according to claim 16, wherein the device further comprises: an upper filter means across said grain flow housing from said third exit end; an upper recovery column in fluid connection with said grain flow housing through said upper filter means; and an upper recycle column in fluid connection with said upper recovery column at one end of said upper recovery column, and wherein the step of directing said first portion of said first filtered flow further comprises steps of: filtering said second pass air flow with second air flow retaining particles through said upper filter means so as to form a second filtered air flow in said upper recovery column, said second air flow retaining particles being retained by said upper filter means.

19. The method for drying grain, according to claim 18, wherein the device further comprises: an upper filter cleaning means positioned within said upper recovery column and being comprised of an upper mobile blower, an upper blower intake, and an upper blower outlet, said upper mobile blower being in fluid connection with said upper recycle column and said upper blower outlet, wherein the step of directing said first portion of said first filtered flow further comprises steps of: directing a first upper portion of said second filtered air flow to said upper recycle column; venting said first upper portion from said upper recycle column through said outlet port; directing a second upper portion of said second filtered air flow from said upper recycle column through said upper filter means toward said grain flow so as to remove said second air flow retaining particles from said upper filter means, and wherein the step of directing said second upper portion of said second filtered flow comprises steps of: collecting said second upper portion from said upper recycle column with said upper blower intake by negative pressure; positioning said upper mobile blower with said upper conveying means, said upper mobile blower being within said upper recovery column and aligned with a section of said upper filter means; and blowing said second upper portion through said section of said upper filter means aligned with said upper blower outlet in a direction opposite to a direction of said second pass air flow through said upper filter means.

20. The method for drying grain, according to claim 13, wherein the step of directing said second portion of said first filtered flow comprises steps of: collecting said second portion of said first filtered flow from said recycle column with said blower intake by negative pressure; positioning said mobile blower with said conveying means, said mobile blower being within said recovery column and aligned with a section of said filter means; and blowing said second portion through said section of said filter means aligned with said blower outlet in a direction opposite to a direction of said first pass air flow through said filter means.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an embodiment of the device for drying grain, according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is another schematic view of an embodiment of the device for drying grain, showing the air flow through the device by the method of the present invention.

(3) FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an embodiment of the filter cleaning means and conveying means.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the housing, the grain flow housing, recycling column, recovery column, filter means, and another embodiment of the filter cleaning means of the present invention.

(5) FIG. 5 is an isolated partial perspective view of the housing filter cleaning means of FIG. 4.

(6) FIG. 6 is another partial perspective view of the other embodiments of the housing, grain flow housing, recycling column, recovery column, filter means, and another embodiment of a filter cleaning means.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The device and method for drying grain of the present invention recycles air flow, after that air flow has been used as a first pass through the grain flow to dry grain. The recycling happens on two levels: some recycled air flow is used to clean the filter, and some recycled air flow is used for a second pass through the grain flow. There is no re-entry into the device by external air for the second pass. Additionally, the filter is cleaned to maintain efficiency of the filter without any down time. The filter can be cleaned without stopping operation.

(8) FIGS. 1 and 3-6 show embodiments of the device 10 for drying grain, according to the invention. The device 10 comprises a housing 16 having an inlet port 12 and an outlet port 14. The inlet port 12 is in fluid connection with the outlet port 14. External air drawn into the housing 16 at the inlet port 12 is vented or eventually exhausted at the outlet port. There is no other entry of external air, and there is mixing with any of the air flows or filtered air flows in the housing 16. There is a reduction in fire hazard because there is no longer mixing and heating of air flows with particles from the grain flow.

(9) The device 10 also comprises a first passageway 20 having a first entry end 22, a first exit end 24, and a first heating means 26 mounted within a second passageway 30, and the second passageway 30 having a second entry 32 end, and a second exit end 34. The inlet port 12 is in fluid connection with both the first entry end 22 and the second entry end 32. FIG. 1 also shows a grain flow housing 40 being comprised of a cooling area 42, a first drying area 44 above the cooling area 42, a second drying area 46 above the first drying area 44, and a third drying area 48 above the second drying area 46. The first exit end 24 is in fluid connection with the cooling area 42, while the second exit end 34 is in fluid connection with the first drying area 44. The first heating means 26 can increase the temperature of the air so that the grains are dried in the first drying area 42. The first heating means can be any known heater, such as an electric heating element, gas heater, or other heating device.

(10) Across the grain flow housing 40 from the first exit end 24 and the second exit end 34, the device 10 includes a filter means 50. The filtering means 50 is comprised of a filter panel 53 as in FIGS. 4 and 6 or a plurality of filter panels 53 as in FIGS. 1 and 5. Each filter panel 53 can include at least one filtering screen and extends over at least part of the grain flow housing 40. Other filter means 50 can be mesh screens, mechanical, static electricity or magnetic separators for removing particles from a gas. Embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 4-6 show the filter panel 53 as planar. Alternatively, as in FIG. 3, the filter panel 53 can be comprised of two facets 55, each facet 55 being contained in a different plane.

(11) FIG. 1 further shows the device 10 comprising a recovery column 52 in fluid connection with the grain flow housing 40 through the filter means 50, an air supplying means 54 in fluid connection with the recovery column 52 and the inlet port 12, and a recycle column 56 in fluid connection with the air supplying means 54 opposite the recovery column 52. The recycle column 56 is in fluid connection with the outlet port 14. A divider 58 separate the recovery column 52 from the recycle column 56. The air supplying means 54 can be a fan, air pump, or other air flow device. The fan has negative pressure on one side to draw air toward the fan and a positive pressure on the opposite side to blow air away from the fan.

(12) Embodiments of the present invention also include a filter cleaning means 60, 60 positioned within the recovery column 52. FIG. 1 shows different embodiments of the filter cleaning means 60, 60. The filter cleaning means 60 is comprised of a mobile blower 62, 62, a blower intake 64, 64, and a blower outlet 66, 66. The mobile blower 62, 62 is in fluid connection with the recycle column 56 and the blower outlet 66, 66. A conveying means 70 within the recovery column 52 connects to the mobile blower 62, 62. FIG. 1 shows the filter cleaning means 60 in two different locations to illustrate the action of the conveying means 70. The conveying means 70 can be a pulley system 70 to raise and lower the mobile blower 62, 62 as in FIGS. 1 and 3 or a motor 70 on track as in FIGS. 1 and 4-6. The alternative motor 70 on a track is shown in a third location along the filter means 50 in FIG. 1.

(13) There are also different embodiments of the mobile blower 62, 62. FIGS. 4-6 show the blower intake 64 as a flexible conduit 64A with attachments to the mobile blower 62 and the recycle column 56. An alternative blower intake 64 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 as a cone or suction cone or baffle. The blower intake 64, 64 is sealed from the recovery column 52 through a divider 58 between the recovery column 52 and the recycle column 56. The blower intake 64, 64 receives air from the positive pressure side of the air supplying means 54. The blower outlet 66 is also shown as being flush to the filter means 50 in FIGS. 1 and 4-6. Alternatively, the blower outlet 66 can be shaped to fit the facets 55 in different planes.

(14) FIG. 1 shows one embodiment to accommodate the second level of recycling relate to another pass through the grain flow. In this embodiment, the device 10 further comprises a third passageway 80 having a third entry end 82, a third exit end 84, and a second heating means 86. The recycle column 56 is in fluid connection with the third entry end 82 after the air supplying means 54, and the second heating means 86 is mounted within the third passageway 80. The second heating means 86 can be the same electric heating element or gas heating element of the first heating means 26. FIG. 1 shows the third exit end 84 in fluid connection with the second drying area 46. The heated air is further drying grains above the first drying area 44 in a second pass through the grain flow in the grain flow housing 40.

(15) Another embodiment of FIG. 1 adds a fourth passageway 90 having a fourth entry end 92, a fourth exit end 94, and a third heating means 96. The recycle column 56 is in fluid connection with the fourth entry end 94 after the air supplying means 54, and the third heating means 96 is mounted within the fourth passageway 90. The third heating means 96 is similar to both the second heating means 86 and the first heating means 26, as an electric heating element, gas heating element, or other device to increase air temperature. FIG. 1 shows the fourth exit end 94 in fluid connection with the third drying area 48. The heated air is further drying grains above the second drying area 46 in the same second pass through the grain flow in the grain flow housing 40. There is a second pass through the grain flow to dry grain before the grain reaches the first drying area 44 and the cooling area 42.

(16) In the embodiment for the second pass through the grain flow, the device 10 can further comprise an upper filter means 100 across the grain flow housing 40 from the third exit end 84 and fourth exit end 94, if there is a fourth passageway 90, an upper recovery column 102 in fluid connection with the grain flow housing 40 through the upper filter means 100, and an upper recycle column 106 in fluid connection with the upper recovery column 102 at one end of the upper recovery column 102. Similar to the filter means 50, the upper filtering means 100 can be comprised of an upper filter panel 103 or a plurality of filter panels 53 as in FIG. 1. Each upper filter panel 103 can include at least one filtering screen and extends over at least part of the grain flow housing 40. Other upper filter means 100 can be mesh screens, mechanical, static electricity or magnetic separators for removing particles from a gas. Embodiments of FIG. 1 show the upper filter panel 103 as planar.

(17) With this embodiment with the upper filtering means 100, the device 10 can further includes an upper filter cleaning means 110 positioned within the upper recovery column 102 and being comprised of an upper mobile blower 112, an upper blower intake 114, and an upper blower outlet 116. Again analogous to the filter cleaning means 60, the upper mobile blower 112 is in fluid connection with the upper recycle column 106 and the upper blower outlet 116. The upper blower intake 112 is sealed from the upper recovery column 102 through an upper divider 108 between the upper recovery column 102 and the upper recycle column 106.

(18) Embodiments of the present invention include the method of drying grain. FIG. 2 shows the air flow through the device 10 for drying grain. The method includes assembling the device 10 and passing an external air flow into the housing 16 through the inlet port 12 by the air supplying means 54 with negative pressure. In the embodiment of the air supplying means 54 as a fan, the fan is oriented to draw air through the inlet port 12 and blow air through the outlet port 14.

(19) A grain flow is poured through the grain flow housing 40 from the top to the bottom by gravity. The grain of the grain flow falls through the grain flow housing 40, and the air in the grain flow housing 40 dries the grain.

(20) In the embodiments of the present invention, the method further comprises passing the external air flow through the grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the grain flow so as to form a first pass air flow. The first pass air flow dries the grain flow. FIG. 2 shows the step of passing the external air flow through the grain flow being comprised of the steps of: passing the external air flow through the first passageway 20 to the grain flow, and passing the external air flow through the second passageway 30 to the grain flow. The external air flow through the first and second passageways 20, 30 form the first pass through the grain flow housing 40. When there is the first heating means 26, the method includes the step of heating the external air flow through the second passageway 30. These steps correspond to the cooling area 42 being in fluid connection with the first exit end 24 with the external air at the same temperature and the first drying area 44 being in fluid connection with the second exit end 34 with the external air heated for drying the grain at a higher temperature.

(21) The method further comprises the steps of filtering the first pass air flow with first air flow retaining particles through the filter means 50 so as to form a first filtered air flow in the recovery column 52. The first air flow retaining particles are retained by the filter means 50. The filter means 50 can be clogged and blocked by these particles, which affects efficiency of the method in terms of negative pressure to draw air into the device 10 and drying the grain.

(22) Embodiments of the present invention include the two levels of recycling. The method includes directing a first portion of the first filtered flow to the recycle column 56 and directing a second portion of the first filtered flow from the recycle column 56 through the filter means 50 toward the grain flow so as to remove the first air flow retaining particles from the filter means 50. The first portion from the recycle column 56 is vented through the outlet port 14. The second portion from the recycle column 56 is re-used to clean the filter means 50.

(23) In one embodiment, the step of directing the second portion of the first filtered flow comprises the steps of: collecting the second portion of the first filtered flow from the recycle column 56 with the blower intake 64 by negative pressure of the mobile blower 62, positioning the mobile blower 62 with the conveying means 70, and blowing the second portion through the section 51 of the filter means 50 aligned with the blower outlet 66 in a direction opposite to a direction of the first pass air flow through the filter means 50. The mobile blower 62 is within the recovery column 52 and aligned with a section 51 of the filter means 50. Only a section 51 of the filter means 50 is cleaned at one time, so there is no complete reversal of air flow at the filter means 50. The air supplying means 54 is more powerful than the mobile blower 62, but the mobile blower 62 is more restricted to an air flow only at the section 51, not the entire filter means 50. The conveyor means 70 actuates the mobile blower 62 along the filter means so that eventually the entire filter means 50 is cleaned. The device 10 does not require shut down in order to clean the filter means 50, and the device 10 can run more efficiently while being regularly and simultaneously cleaned.

(24) FIG. 2 also shows an embodiment for further steps of directing the first portion of the first filtered flow as the second level of recycling. The first portion can be processed further before being vented to the outlet port 14. In these embodiments, the device 10 further comprises the third passageway 80 with the recycle column 56 being in fluid connection with the third entry end 82 after the air supplying means 54 and the second heating means 86 mounted within the third passageway 80. In the corresponding method, the step of directing the first portion of the first filtered flow comprises the steps of: passing the first portion from the recycle column 56 to the third passageway 80 by the air supplying means 54 by positive pressure, heating the first portion with the second heating means 86 within the third passageway 80, and passing the first portion through the grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the grain flow so as to form a second pass air flow from the third passageway 80. This second pass air flow dries the grain flow again. The third exit end 84 corresponds to the second drying area 46 above the first drying areas 44 of the grain flow housing. The second recycling is a second pass air flow.

(25) FIG. 2 further shows the embodiment of the device comprising the fourth passageway 90 with the recycle column 56 being in fluid connection with the fourth entry end 92 after the air supplying means 54, and the third heating means 96 mounted within the fourth passageway 90. With the fourth passageway 90, the method includes passing the first portion from the recycle column 56 to the fourth passageway 90 by the air blowing means 54 by positive pressure concurrent with passing the first portion to the third passageway 80. The first portion is also heated with the third heating means 96 within the fourth passageway 90. The method includes passing the first portion through the grain flow in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the grain flow so as to form the second pass air flow from the fourth passageway 90 and the third passageway 80. This second pass air flow also dries the grain flow. The third exit end 86 corresponds to the second drying area 46, and the fourth exit end 96 corresponds to the third drying area 48.

(26) Other embodiments include the method comprising the step of filtering the second pass air flow with second air flow retaining particles through the upper filter means 100 so as to form a second filtered air flow in the upper recovery column 102. The second air flow retaining particles are retained by the upper filter means 100. The device 10 must further comprise the upper filter means 100 across the grain flow housing 40 from the third exit end 86, the upper recovery column 102 in fluid connection with the grain flow housing 40 through the upper filter means 100, and the upper recycle column 108 in fluid connection with the upper recovery column 102 at one end of the upper recovery column 102. The second pass air flow is also filtered so that the particles are removed again for the second filtered air flow.

(27) Consequently, another embodiment includes cleaning the upper filter means 100, when the device 10 further includes the upper filter cleaning means 120 positioned within the upper recovery column 102 and being comprised of an upper mobile blower 112, an upper blower intake 114, and an upper blower outlet 116. Analogous to the mobile blower 82, the upper mobile blower 112 is in fluid connection with the upper recycle column 106 and the upper blower outlet 116. Similar to the steps of cleaning the filter means 50, the steps of cleaning the upper filter means 110 include directing a first upper portion of the second filtered air flow to the upper recycle column 106, venting the first upper portion from the upper recycle column 106 through the outlet port 14, and directing a second upper portion of the second filtered air flow from the upper recycle column 106 through the upper filter means 110 toward the grain flow so as to remove the second air flow retaining particles from the upper filter means 100.

(28) In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the step of directing the second upper portion of the second filtered flow comprises the steps of: collecting the second upper portion from the upper recycle column 106 with the upper blower intake 114 by negative pressure of the upper mobile blower 112, positioning the upper mobile blower 112 with the upper conveying means 120, and blowing the second upper portion through the section 101 of the upper filter means 100 aligned with the upper blower outlet 116 in a direction opposite to a direction of the second pass air flow through the upper filter means 100. The upper mobile blower 102 is within the upper recovery column 102 and aligned with the section 101 of the upper filter means 100.

(29) In embodiments of the device 10 and method of the present invention, all of the air used in the lower portion of the housing 16 can be recycled so as to be re-used in the upper part of this same housing 16. Unlike traditional methods and devices, which rely on external air to mix with recycled air, the present invention does not rely on outside air. Generally, air from outside necessarily has a lower temperature than any internal recycled air that has already circulated through the grain flow housing 40. Therefore, in order to reach adequate temperature for drying grain, the external air requires a higher energy consumption than recycled air. Therefore, the method and the device according to the invention permit an improvement of the performance of drying of the grains.

(30) In addition, part of the air recycled in the upper portion of the housing 40 in the second and third drying areas 46, 48, can be re-used in the lower portion of the housing 16 by the filter cleaning means 60. The device 10 fully re-uses the first filtered flow from the filter means 50. Furthermore, the embodiment of the filter panels 53 as planar simplifies the installation of device 10. Complicated, expensive and bulky suction devices requiring the installation of a piping, a motor and control cabinets is avoided. Instead, the filter cleaning means 60 of the present invention controls elimination particles and dust from the filter means 50 (and upper filter means 100), which are blown back towards the grain flow housing 40 for proper disposal or collection. The filter means 50 can be cleaned without interrupting the grain flow in the grain flow housing 40 and shut down of the device 10. The independence and separation of the mobile blower 62 continuously removes particles with air from the recycle column.

(31) The invention is not limited to the examples shown and described above, which may have variants and modifications without departing from the scope of the invention.

(32) The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof. Various changes in the details of the illustrated construction can be made without departing from the true spirit of the invention.